Last-gasp header secures Macarthur a win over Brisbane Roar

A dramatic comeback amounted to nothing for Brisbane Roar against Macarthur FC at Campbelltown Stadium.

Bulls players celebrate Jake McGing’s match-winning goal. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Former Roar defender Jake McGing broke Brisbane hearts with a stoppage-time goal to secure Macarthur FC a 3-2 win at Campbelltown Stadium on Sunday.

Having fought back from 2-0 down with late goals from substitute Jay O’Shea and Jez Lofthouse, the Roar seemed to have salvaged a point in hot conditions.

However, the game again swung when the visitors were reduced to 10 men two minutes into injury time after left back Jordan Courtney-Perkins was sent off for a second bookable offence.

The Bulls then charged home, with substitute McGing heading home an Ivan Vujica cross in the final minute of stoppage time to secure all three points for the hosts.

While the win keeps Macarthur well in the hunt for a finals berth, the loss will make it extremely difficult for Roar – who are seven points adrift of sixth-placed Sydney FC – to finish in the top six.

Macarthur players celebrate with fans after Jake McGing’s match-winning goal. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

“I’m happy with how I played but I’m really disappointed with the end result,” Lofthouse told Network 10.

“The boys put in such a shift in that second half. I feel like we had some chances to go on and win the game, and to lose like that, it’s heartbreaking.”The Bulls went ahead in the 14th minute through their Georgian striker Bachana Arabuli.

Danny De Silva started the move with a long ball that was chased down by Al Hassan Toure.

The former Adelaide United prodigy then crossed the ball to the far post, where Arabuli showed great control and delivered an even better finish to score his fourth goal of the season.

Brisbane’s Serbian marksman Stefan Scepovic had chances to equalise in the 16th and 35th minutes but on both occasions he was foiled by Macarthur’s Polish goalkeeper Filip Kurto.

The Roar had another chance to get back on level terms in first-half stoppage time but defender Jack Hingert failed to hit the target with a header from a Henry Hore cross.

The Bulls seemed to be cruising when they doubled their lead via a well-taken goal from Matt Millar in the 67th minute.

However, a brilliant 78th-minute strike from O’Shea on his return from a broken toe, and a header two minutes later from Lofthouse – who has a new lease of life under interim Roar coach Nick Green – drew the Roar level.

Soon after Scepovic hit the bar with a header, but it was the header of McGing, who spent the 2019-20 season with the Roar, that ultimately proved the difference.

Bulls coach Mile Sterjovski said his side was “good in patches”.

“Being 2-0 up I thought we’d go on and win easily, but credit to Brisbane for coming back and making it hard for us, but I’m glad we got the three points in the end,” Sterjovski said.

Originally published as Last-gasp header secures Macarthur a win over Brisbane Roar